TIOB OF DEDICATED) ACT, 1988

The Andhra Pradesh Devadasis (Prohibition of Dedicated) Act, 1988

The Andhra Pradesh Devadasis (Prohibition of Dedicated) Act, 1988 outlaws the practice of dedicating women to deities or temples in Andhra Pradesh. The legislation renders all such past and future dedications unlawful and completely void. It applies to any individual who performs, promotes, abets, or participates in these rituals, punishing violators with criminal penalties. Crucially, the law guarantees that women retain their lawful right to marry regardless of custom. This law matters significantly because it dismantles a deeply entrenched system of socio-religious exploitation, safeguarding the fundamental human rights, personal freedom, and dignity of affected women.

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